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Applications that passed the feasibility check are evaluated by members of a User Selection Panel (USP). The USP consists of six external experts and six internal ASSEMBLE Plus Project Implementation Committee members (in turn). Each application is evaluated and scored by one external and one internal USP member according to the following criteria:

1. Scientific excellence and novelty of the project proposal

Applications should have scientific quality, a clearly defined background, and be innovative. The significance of the project proposal in the context of international research and standards in the field as well as the relevance of the project to the scientist’s overall scientific work should be considered. Scores are:

4. Excellent

3. Good

2. Sufficient

0. Not competitive

2. Scientific feasibility/probability of delivery

Applications should have realistic scientific goals that can be achieved in the context of the ASSEMBLE Plus. Scores are:

3. Need

1. Explained, but objectives could be achieved anywhere, including within the User’s own country

0. Not clear why access to an Access Provider is needed

4. Priority to external applicants

0.25. New users (i.e., no access received in previous TA calls)

0.25. No joint publication over last 5 years with in-house staff with which user requests collaboration

0.5. From non-marine disciplines

0.5. From countries where state-of-the-art marine research infrastructure is unavailable

0.5. External, not part of the ASSEMBLE Plus consortium

5. Compliance with the themes to be tested in the TA call (if applicable)

0. Yes

0. No

Maximum grades for all of the selection criteria sum up to 10. To fine-tune an evaluation, decimals can be given (e.g., 3.4, 1.7). Values serve as guidelines for evaluation. An application obtaining any red score is rejected.

Each pair of evaluators is required to agree on an application’s score and provide feedback that will be sent to the applicant. If they arrive at a similar score, the average of their scores is the final score. If their scores deviate by more than two points, another external USP member provides a score, which is averaged with the nearest score given by the primary evaluators.

The User Selection Panel (USP) is in charge of the scientific review of the applications. The USP consists of six internal members of the ASSEMBLE Plus Project Implementation Committee (in turn) and six external experts in the Advisory Board.